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Crypto World

Securitize adds former IMF representative Sunil Sabharwal to board

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Tokenized U.S. Treasuries keep RWA lead as tokenized equities accelerate

Securitize has appointed Sunil Sabharwal to its board of directors as the tokenization firm moves ahead with expansion plans. 

Summary

  • Securitize appointed Sunil Sabharwal, a former IMF representative, to its board of directors this week.
  • The company manages over $4 billion in on-chain assets for major financial institutions globally.
  • Securitize continues pursuing a public listing through its planned merger with Cantor Equity Partners II.

The company said the appointment adds experience in global finance, payments, and public policy at a time when tokenized asset platforms are drawing more institutional attention.

Sabharwal is a business executive and investor with a background in payments and financial services. He also served as a Senate-confirmed U.S. representative to the International Monetary Fund from 2016 to 2018.

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Securitize chief executive Carlos Domingo said Sabharwal brings experience from both the private and public sectors. Domingo said “Sunil’s career is defined by building and scaling financial infrastructure at a global level.”

He added that Sabharwal’s background in payments and international finance would support the company’s next phase of growth. Domingo said tokenization is moving from concept to market infrastructure, and that Sabharwal’s perspective would be useful as the firm expands.

Sabharwal currently serves on the boards of Thunes and TookiTaki. He also previously chaired payment companies Earthport and Ogone, which were later acquired by Visa and Ingenico.

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His background includes work across payments, cross-border finance, and strategic growth. That track record gives Securitize a board member with experience in both financial infrastructure and regulated markets.

Sabharwal also received the U.S. Treasury’s Distinguished Service Award during his public service. He was nominated by former President Barack Obama in 2016 and served mainly during President Donald Trump’s first term until 2018.

Since 2021, he has worked as an advisor and operating partner for the Blackstone Growth Equity Fund, according to LinkedIn. He also previously advised SpiceVC, an early backer of Securitize.

Securitize expands tokenized asset business

Securitize manages more than $4 billion in on-chain assets. Its platform supports tokenized products tied to firms including BlackRock, Apollo, BNY, Hamilton Lane, KKR, and VanEck.

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Among its best-known products is BlackRock’s BUIDL fund. The company has positioned itself as one of the larger players in the tokenized real-world asset market as institutions explore blockchain-based fund structures.

The board appointment comes as the company continues to build out that business. It also comes as market participants pay closer attention to firms that offer tokenized versions of traditional financial products.

Public listing plan remains in focus

Securitize is also pursuing a public market listing through a merger with Cantor Equity Partners II, a Cantor Fitzgerald-sponsored firm. The companies entered into a definitive acquisition agreement in October.

The deal would value Securitize at $1 billion. The combined company is expected to trade on Nasdaq under the ticker CEPT.

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The transaction would also give Securitize access to the $240 million raised by CEPT in its initial public offering. That planned listing remains a key part of the company’s growth strategy as it expands its presence in tokenized finance.

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Bitcoin’s available supply is shrinking as long-term holding hits record 4 million BTC

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Bithumb’s $40 Billion bitcoin blunder triggers major South Korean market probe

In a significant shift in bitcoin’s market structure the amount of supply held by “conviction buyers” has surged to nearly 4 million BTC, according to BitGo data cited by Bitfinex on Wednesday.

Bitcoin in long-term buyers’ hands currently represents a 300% increase since the end of 2025, signaling a massive migration of the crypto’s realized value into large, low-activity entities, according to Bitfinex.

The massive “conviction” capital is valued at just over $320 billion, based on bitcoin’s current price of roughly $80,000.

“While the exact methodology behind BitGo’s ‘conviction buyers’ metric isn’t immediately clear, the broader signal is notable,” said Mati Greenspan, a market analyst and founder of Quantum Economics. “Historically, periods of tightening liquid supply combined with renewed demand have created the conditions for bitcoin’s most aggressive upside expansions.”

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The current accumulation trend marks the largest two-quarter surge in high-conviction buying since the 2020 COVID-19 crash, Bitfinex said. Conviction buyers are long-term investors, whether they be individuals or institutional.

Long-term buyers holdings are not part of the estimated 5.6 million BTC that has been inactive for over a decade, according to Jameson Lopp, a core bitcoin developer. The total amount of bitcoin in circulation is 20.03 million currently, according to CoinDesk data.

Bitfinex analysts noted that a growing share of bitcoin’s realized value is no longer circulating on crypto exchanges, but is instead moving into the hands of entities that rarely transact, regardless of price volatility.

This structural shift suggests that long-term holders, ranging from institutional “whales” to corporate treasures, are aggressively absorbing the available bitcoin supply, most notably Strategy (MSTR), the largest publicly traded corporate holder of bitcoin. This company, which is currently sitting on $4.6 billion in unrealized gains, recently increased its total holdings to 818,869 BTC, which it acquired for nearly $62 billion. When supply moves into these low-activity entities, it effectively reduces the liquid supply available on the open market, creating a potential “supply shock” dynamic.

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Supporting this narrative of strengthening the market floor, CEX.IO research . Their analysis reveals that nearly 70% of recent buyers’ supply is now in profit, a metric that often serves as a psychological buffer against sell-offs, according to CEX.IO research.

CEX.IO also suggests that as most new bitcoin investors move into the “green,” their urgency to exit positions during minor pullbacks decreases, which helps stabilize the price of BTC.

“People who actually get bitcoin always want to accumulate as much as possible and never want to sell, particularly now with all the new existing ways to borrow against BTC holdings,” Ran Hammer, vice president of Business Development at Orbs, told CoinDesk. “That changes the supply equation entirely, with more BTC structurally removed from the market.”

In a separate email comment to CoinDesk, Connor Howe, CEO and co-founder at Enso, said he believes BTC’s long-term scarcity narrative is maturing from theory into market structure.

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“With ETF flows and institutional accumulation becoming more structural than speculative, a larger share of supply is moving into conviction hands,” he said, adding that “this could make future scarcity far more visible when demand accelerates.”

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Societe Generale Expands Tokenized Collateral and Stablecoin Push on Canton

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Source: DefiLlama

Societe Generale said its digital assets subsidiary Societe Generale-FORGE will deploy EUR and USD CoinVertible stablecoins on the Canton Network and support tokenized collateral and repo financing activity on the network.

The Paris-based bank said it plans to use the network for collateral management and short-term financing transactions tied to tokenized assets. It added that Canton’s infrastructure could be used for collateral mobility, margin management and risk management workflows tied to tokenized assets.

SG-FORGE said its EURCV and USDCV stablecoins will be used for settlement, financing and cash management activity on the network in permitted jurisdictions. The stablecoins are restricted to non-US permitted participants and are not registered under the US Securities Act, according to the announcement.

Societe Generale will also participate in the network as a strategic partner and validator. The bank previously issued a tokenized green bond on the Canton Network in November 2025 through SG-FORGE.

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SG-FORGE launched its euro-denominated EURCV stablecoin in 2023 and introduced the US dollar-denominated USDCV stablecoin in 2025. Data from DeFiLlama shows EURCV has a market capitalization of about $97 million, while USDCV has roughly $20 million in circulation.

Last month, the bank integrated USDCV into the MetaMask wallet through a partnership with Consensys.

Source: DefiLlama
Source: DefiLlama

Source: DefiLlama

Related: Stablecoins won’t strengthen global role of euro, ECB’s Lagarde says

Financial institutions expand tokenized collateral infrastructure

The announcement comes as banks and financial institutions are expanding their use of blockchain-based systems for collateral management, repo financing and stablecoin settlement.

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This week, JPMorgan filed to launch a tokenized money market fund on Ethereum through its Kinexys Digital Assets unit. The fund will invest in Treasury bills and overnight repurchase agreements collateralized by Treasurys or cash.

On Tuesday, The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation said it will integrate infrastructure from Chainlink into its collateral management platform ahead of a planned 2026 launch to support tokenized collateral movement, valuation and settlement workflows. DTCC’s subsidiaries processed $4.7 quadrillion in securities transactions in 2025.

Separately, Broadridge Financial Solutions yesterday announced it expanded its infrastructure to support tokenized stocks, funds and money market instruments across trading and post-trade operations. The company said its distributed ledger repo platform tokenizes more than $365 billion in assets daily.

RWA.xyz data shows more than $31.6 billion worth of real-world assets, excluding stablecoins, are currently tokenized on blockchain networks. Tokenized US Treasury products account for the largest share of the market at more than $15.3 billion, followed by commodities at about $5.1 billion.

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Source: RWA.xyz
Source: RWA.xyz

Snapshot of tokenized real-world assets. Source: RWA.xyz

Magazine: eToro founder timed Bitcoin top perfectly due to belief in 4 year cycles

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Crypto Hopefuls Watch As Trump Weighs 250 Pardons for America’s 250th Birthday

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Salame Posts a Series of Tweets to Align Himself Close to Donald Trump’s Policies

The White House is reportedly weighing roughly 250 presidential pardons to mark America’s 250th birthday, the Wall Street Journal reports. Crypto’s most prominent legal cases are already running the numbers.

The plan remains preliminary. Yet it surfaces as Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), Roger Ver, and other crypto defendants intensify their bids for clemency from Donald Trump.

A Pardon Pool Built for Symbolism

Trump has already issued more than 1,600 acts of clemency in his second term. That is several times more than the 250 he granted across his entire first term, and a meaningful share has flowed straight into the crypto industry.

In October 2025, the president pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao after his guilty plea on anti-money laundering charges.

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Earlier the same year, the BitMEX co-founders and Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht received clemency of their own.

A symbolic batch of 250 pardons, packaged around Independence Day, would extend a pattern critics call transactional and supporters frame as a correction of past prosecutions.

“Ulbricht was sentenced to two life sentences, plus 40 years, a sentence worse than the worst drug sellers on the site,” wrote Collin Rugg.

Follow us on X to get the latest news as it happens

Who in Crypto Could Still Walk Free

Three names dominate the speculation. Sam Bankman-Fried, the convicted founder of FTX, has run a sustained public campaign for relief. Trump explicitly denied the request in January, but allies have not stopped lobbying.

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While SBF’s pardon hopes have been dashed, Trump has signaled openness to clemency in other crypto-related cases. The President recently said he would “look at” the case of Samourai Wallet CEO Keonne Rodriguez.

Roger Ver, the early BTC backer widely called “Bitcoin Jesus,” has pushed harder than almost anyone. He hired political operative Roger Stone and recorded a direct video plea.

Elon Musk has reportedly explored backing his case as well, just like Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and other crypto leaders.

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“Genuine good faith mistakes should be treated by giving the actor the opportunity to pay back taxes if needed with interest and penalties, not with prosecution,” Buterin proposed in reference to Roger Ver.

Joby Weeks, a miner who pleaded guilty to tax-related charges tied to a crypto scheme, is also seeking inclusion.

Former FTX executive Ryan Salame has openly aligned with MAGA messaging in his own quiet bid for relief.

Salame Posts a Series of Tweets to Align Himself Close to Donald Trump’s Policies
Salame Posts a Series of Tweets to Align Himself Close to Donald Trump’s Policies. Source: X/@rsalame7926

Others have even called for extending clemency to Do Kwon, the embattled founder of the collapsed Terra/Luna ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Polymarket is already running a market for this development, with Ryan Salame (13%), SBF (11%), Do Kwon (9%) already in the list of prospects to be pardoned before 2027.

Trump's Pardon Prospects According to Polymarket Bettors
Trump’s Pardon Prospects According to Polymarket Bettors. Source: Polymarket

Why Summer 2026 Is the Window to Watch

The Senate is already investigating Trump’s crypto pardons. A bundled July 4 announcement would magnify scrutiny but also let the administration tuck clemency inside a celebratory national moment.

The stakes stretch beyond any single defendant, particularly for crypto. Each pardon resets how prosecutors and exchanges read the regulatory mood.

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A symbolic 250 could send the loudest signal yet that the legal cost of running a crypto business has fundamentally shifted in the United States.

The final list, if it materializes, may surface in weeks rather than months. Which founder, hacker or trader earns a spot remains anybody’s guess.

The post Crypto Hopefuls Watch As Trump Weighs 250 Pardons for America’s 250th Birthday appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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Bitcoin and several major altcoins are at a crucial juncture

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Bitcoin and several major altcoins are at a crucial juncture

Key points:

  • Bitcoin has reached a crucial support, as a break below the $79,000 level may deepen the pullback.
  • Several major altcoins are facing selling pressure, indicating that the bears remain in the game. 

Bitcoin (BTC) extended its pullback on Wednesday and slipped below the $80,000 level. However, analysts remain optimistic about BTC’s prospects in the near term.

Analyst CRG said in a post on X that BTC did not break above the Ichimoku cloud even once during the previous bear market, and when it did, a new bull market started. Interestingly, BTC has risen comfortably above the Ichimoku cloud, weakening the comparison with the previous bear market cycle.

Another bullish projection came from Maelstrom chief investment officer Arthur Hayes, who said in a Substack post that BTC “retaking the $126,000 is a foregone conclusion.” He expects BTC to pick up momentum after breaking above $90,000, where “many call over-writers will rush to cover as their strike gets taken out.”

Hayes expects the AI sector race with China and the ongoing war with Iran to result in money printing, benefitting the crypto ecosystem.

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BTC’s bullish view is not shared by everyone. A BTC whale, known by the moniker ‘pension-usdt.eth,’ is short 1,000 BTC, worth roughly $81 million, with 3x leverage. The trade, which was opened when BTC was at $67,990, is down about $13 million, but the trader confirmed on X that he was still short as “the trade makes sense.”

Could BTC and the major altcoins rebound off their support levels? Let’s analyze the charts of the top-10 cryptocurrencies to find out.

Bitcoin price prediction

BTC has dipped to the 20-day exponential moving average ($79,092), which is a critical near-term support to watch.

BTC/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

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If the price rebounds off the 20-day EMA with strength, the bulls will try to push the BTC/USDT pair above the $84,000 resistance. If they succeed, the BTC price is expected to pick up momentum and skyrocket toward $92,000 and subsequently to $97,924.

This bullish view will be invalidated in the near term if the price continues lower and breaks below the 20-day EMA. That suggests traders are booking profits. That may start a deeper pullback toward the 50-day simple moving average ($74,571) and later to the support line.

Ether price prediction

Ether (ETH) attempted to start a recovery from the 50-day SMA ($2,245), but the long wick on the candlestick shows selling at higher levels.

ETH/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

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A break and close below the 50-day SMA opens the doors for a drop to the support line of the ascending channel pattern. Buyers are expected to fiercely defend the support line, as a close below it may sink the ETH/USDT pair to $1,916.

The first sign of strength will be a break and close above the $2,465 resistance. The ETH price may then ascend to the resistance line, which is a critical level to watch. A break above the resistance line may catapult the pair toward $3,050.

BNB price prediction

BNB (BNB) rebounded off the 20-day EMA ($643) on Tuesday and reached the $687 overhead resistance on Wednesday.

BNB/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

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The upsloping 20-day EMA and the RSI near the overbought zone signal that the bulls have the upper hand. A close above the $687 level opens the doors for a rally to $730 and later to $790.

Sellers will have to tug the BNB price back below the 50-day SMA ($623) to weaken the bulls. If they manage to do that, the BNB/USDT pair may consolidate inside the $570 to $687 range for a while longer.

XRP price prediction

XRP (XRP) has been stuck between the downtrend line of the descending channel pattern and the moving averages for the past few days.

XRP/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

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A tight consolidation below a crucial resistance suggests that the bulls are holding on to their positions as they anticipate an upside breakout. If the downtrend line is scaled, the XRP/USDT pair may surge to $1.61. Sellers are expected to defend the $1.61 level with all their might, as a close above it signals a potential trend change. The XRP price may then soar to $2.40.

Conversely, a close below the moving averages suggests that the bulls have given up. The pair may then descend to the $1.27 level, where the buyers are expected to step in.

Solana price prediction

Solana (SOL) turned down from the $98 resistance on Tuesday, indicating that the bears are active at higher levels.

SOL/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

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The upsloping 20-day EMA ($89) and the RSI in the positive territory indicate an advantage to buyers. If the price rebounds off the 20-day EMA, the bulls will again attempt to pierce the $98 resistance. If they can pull it off, the SOL/USDT pair may climb to $106 and then to $117.

This positive view will be negated in the near term if the SOL price continues lower and breaks below the 20-day EMA. Such a move suggests that the pair may continue to oscillate between $76 and $98 for some more time.

Dogecoin price prediction

Dogecoin (DOGE) bounced off the 20-day EMA ($0.10) on Tuesday, indicating that the bulls are viewing the dips as a buying opportunity.

DOGE/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

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The bulls tried to clear the $0.12 overhead hurdle but are facing significant resistance from the bears. However, if the bulls prevail, the DOGE/USDT pair may rally to $0.14 and subsequently to $0.16.

Sellers are likely to have other plans. They will attempt to defend the overhead resistance and pull the DOGE price back below the 20-day EMA. If they do that, the pair may extend its stay inside the $0.09 to $0.12 range for a few more days.

Hyperliquid price prediction

Hyperliquid (HYPE) continued lower and broke below the 50-day SMA ($40.55) on Tuesday, indicating profit-booking by short-term traders.

HYPE/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

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If the price breaks below $38.70, it suggests that the HYPE/USDT pair may have topped out in the near term. The HYPE price may then tumble to $34.45.

Buyers have an uphill task ahead of them. Any recovery attempt is expected to face selling at the 20-day EMA ($41.56) and then in the $43.76 to $45.77 zone. The bulls will have to drive and sustain the price above the $45.77 level to signal the resumption of the up move. The pair may then surge to $50.

Related: Bitcoin to $100K in Q2? Strategy’s STRC unlocks potential to buy 3K BTC in two days

Cardano price prediction

Cardano’s (ADA) pullback is attempting to find support at the 20-day EMA ($0.26), but the bears continue to exert pressure.

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ADA/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

If the price continues lower and breaks below the moving averages, it suggests that the ADA/USDT pair may remain inside the $0.22 to $0.31 range for a few more days.

Buyers will have to fiercely defend the moving averages and start a rebound off it to signal strength. The ADA price may then rise to $0.29 and later to $0.31. Sellers are expected to defend the $0.31 level, as a close above it indicates the start of a new up move. The pair may soar to $0.36 and eventually to the pattern target of $0.40.

Zcash price prediction

Zcash (ZEC) bounced off the $560 level on Tuesday, but the bulls could not sustain momentum on Wednesday.

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ZEC/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

If the ZEC price closes below the breakout level of $560, it signals profit booking by short-term traders. The ZEC/USDT pair may then slump to the 20-day EMA ($481). A deeper correction to $400 may begin if the 20-day EMA cracks.

Contrarily, if the price bounces off the 20-day EMA with force, it suggests that the bulls remain in charge. Buyers will then make one more attempt to drive the price above the $643 level. If they succeed, the pair may surge to $750.

Bitcoin Cash price prediction

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) fell below the moving averages and the $443 support on Tuesday, indicating that the bears have an edge.

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BCH/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Sellers will attempt to pull the BCH price to the solid support at $419. Buyers are expected to aggressively defend the $419 level, as a close below it may resume the downtrend. The next stop on the downside may be $375.

Instead, if the price turns up sharply from $419 and breaks above the moving averages, it suggests that the BCH/USDT pair may remain range-bound for some more time. Buyers will be back in the driver’s seat on a close above $486.

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UnitedHealth Group (UNH) Stock Surges to 52-Week Peak Following Impressive Q1 Performance

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UNH Stock Card

Key Takeaways

  • UNH reached a 52-week peak of $404.14 mid-week, climbing approximately 30% in the last 30 days
  • First quarter revenues totaled $111.7 billion, representing a 2% annual increase, while adjusted EPS exceeded forecasts at $7.23
  • Operating margins at UnitedHealthcare expanded from 6.2% to 6.6% during the first quarter
  • The company’s Medical Care Ratio declined to 83.9% in Q1, a significant improvement from the previous quarter’s 88.9%
  • Strategic reduction of 1.3 million Medicare Advantage members in 2026 aims to preserve profitability

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) reached a 52-week peak of $404.14 during Wednesday’s trading session, concluding an impressive rally that pushed shares up approximately 30% during the previous month.


UNH Stock Card
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, UNH

For the current year, UNH has advanced roughly 21%. Looking at the trailing twelve-month period, the stock has delivered gains of about 29%.

This upward momentum represents a dramatic reversal from earlier weakness. Between January and late March, shares tumbled from $336 down to $259 — representing approximately a 23% decline.

The turnaround gained momentum following UnitedHealth’s first quarter earnings report in late April, which surpassed Wall Street estimates and included an upward revision to full-year guidance.

First quarter revenues reached $111.7 billion, marking a 2% year-over-year expansion. Adjusted earnings per share landed at $7.23, exceeding analyst projections. Reported EPS registered at $6.90.

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UnitedHealthcare’s operating margins expanded from 6.2% to 6.6%, representing a modest yet significant enhancement for an organization navigating a transitional phase.

Medicare Advantage Continues to Present Challenges

Medicare Advantage has emerged as one of the more prominent headwinds for UNH. Federal reimbursement rates have failed to match the acceleration in program expenses, creating margin compression in recent years.

To address this dynamic, UnitedHealth strategically reduced its Medicare Advantage enrollment by 1.3 million participants for 2026. While challenging, leadership characterized this decision as essential for maintaining long-term financial health.

The financial results are reflecting this strategic shift. UnitedHealth’s Medical Care Ratio — representing the portion of premium revenue allocated to claims payments — dropped to 83.9% in Q1, compared to 88.9% in the fourth quarter of 2025.

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This substantial quarter-over-quarter improvement indicates the enrollment reductions are already positively impacting the company’s cost profile.

Early 2025 Presented a Contrasting Scenario

The start of 2025 proved turbulent. UnitedHealth experienced significant selling pressure in early January following disappointing fourth quarter 2024 results and a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposal for Medicare Advantage rate adjustments that fell short of industry expectations.

The organization has additionally navigated executive transitions and an active antitrust review. While these concerns persist, market participants currently appear focused on operational performance rather than these ongoing issues.

At its current valuation near $400, UNH offers a dividend yield of approximately 2.3%, with a market capitalization hovering around $360 billion.

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The stock’s 52-week trading range extends from $234.60 to $404.15 — with Wednesday’s high matching the upper boundary of that range.

Wednesday’s volume registered approximately 4.8 million shares, trailing the average daily volume of 8.5 million, indicating the advance occurred without exceptional trading activity.

UNH closed Wednesday’s session at $400.38 according to the most recent available pricing data.

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Sam Altman Claims Elon Musk Abandoned OpenAI After Control Dispute

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Brian Armstrong's Bold Prediction: AI Agents Will Soon Dominate Global Financial

Key Takeaways

  • OpenAI CEO Sam Altman delivered approximately 4 hours of testimony in the federal lawsuit filed by Elon Musk in Oakland, California
  • Altman maintained that Musk left OpenAI voluntarily, contradicting Musk’s allegations of a stolen charitable mission
  • According to Altman, Musk demanded complete majority ownership of OpenAI, a proposal that left him “extremely uncomfortable”
  • Defense attorneys questioned Altman’s credibility, referencing previous allegations of dishonesty from former colleagues
  • The trial moves to closing statements on Thursday; the jury will provide an advisory verdict only

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, appeared in federal court on Tuesday to defend against claims made by Elon Musk that he and fellow executives undermined OpenAI’s foundational nonprofit principles.

During his roughly four-hour testimony at the Oakland, California federal courthouse, Altman presented a clear counternarrative: rather than having his charitable endeavor taken from him, Musk chose to walk away from the project.

“We were kind of left for dead,” Altman stated during his testimony.

The legal proceedings originated from a 2024 complaint filed by Musk against OpenAI, Altman, and Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s president. Musk alleges that this trio diverted the organization from its initial nonprofit framework. Additionally, he contends that his approximately $38 million in contributions were redirected toward commercial ventures without his consent.

Altman denied making any commitments to Musk regarding maintaining OpenAI’s nonprofit status. He characterized their relationship as one marked by fundamental disagreements over strategic direction, ultimately leading to Musk’s complete loss of confidence in the organization.

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To support his account, Altman referenced a December 2018 email from Musk stating: “My probability assessment of OpenAI being relevant to DeepMind/Google without a dramatic change in execution and resources is 0%. Not 1%.”

Altman emphasized these words were “burned into my memory.”

The Battle Over Ownership

A significant portion of Altman’s court appearance centered on Musk’s insistence on securing majority ownership of any for-profit iteration of OpenAI. According to Altman, Musk demanded controlling authority while making only vague references to potentially reducing his stake in the future.

Altman expressed skepticism about this happening. “My belief is he wanted to have long-term control,” he told the court.

He recounted what he characterized as a “hair-raising” exchange. When fellow co-founders questioned what would become of OpenAI should Musk pass away while maintaining control, Musk allegedly responded casually, suggesting his children could potentially inherit his stake.

Altman emphasized that OpenAI’s founding principle centered on preventing any individual from controlling artificial general intelligence. This made Musk’s ownership demands fundamentally incompatible with the organization’s values.

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During negotiations, Musk floated the idea of combining OpenAI with Tesla. Altman declined, arguing that Tesla’s identity as an automotive manufacturer made it unsuitable for advancing OpenAI’s objectives.

Musk officially departed from OpenAI’s board in February 2018. Altman testified that staff reactions were mixed, with some experiencing a “morale boost,” while others feared Musk might pursue “vengeance.”

Defense Targets Altman’s Trustworthiness

Steven Molo, representing Musk, utilized cross-examination to cast doubt on Altman’s reliability. His questioning began bluntly: “Are you completely trustworthy?” Altman initially responded “I believe so,” before modifying his answer to an unqualified yes.

Molo highlighted previous accusations from former associates, including Dario Amodei, who founded Anthropic, and cited Monday’s testimony from Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI’s former chief scientist. Sutskever claimed to have documented what he characterized as recurring instances of dishonesty by Altman.

Altman also discussed his temporary 2023 ouster as CEO. He described the experience as an “incredible betrayal” and noted that board members offered minimal justification beyond claiming he hadn’t been forthcoming with them.

“I had poured the last years of my life into this,” Altman testified. “I was watching it about to be destroyed.”

OpenAI currently carries a valuation exceeding $850 billion according to private market investors. Musk’s lawsuit seeks the removal of both Altman and Brockman, along with redirecting over $130 billion to OpenAI’s nonprofit foundation. Final arguments are set for Thursday. The jury will deliver an advisory opinion, with final authority resting with Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.

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Traders predict Trump will make major announcements during China trip

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Traders predict Trump will make major announcements during China trip

US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on the South Lawn of the White House before boarding Marine One in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

Bonnie Cash | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Prediction market traders think President Donald Trump will make some major announcements in his trip to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. 

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Traders on Kalshi give an 86% chance that he will announce China will buy aircraft from domestic manufacturer Boeing

That belief is shared with Wall Street, as Boeing’s stock advanced nearly 2% on Wednesday ahead of the meeting. 

“The speculation is that Trump wants this to be the largest order ever announced, which could mean a Boeing purchase commitment in the triple-digit billions,” wrote Tobin Marcus, head of U.S. politics and policy at Wolfe Research, in a note. “Investors will need to await clarification from the company about how ‘real’ those numbers are and what specific airframes are included.”

Traders are also placing more than 81% odds that Trump will announce an extension of the U.S.-China tariff truce. In their October deal, China agreed to pause export controls on rare earths while the U.S. cut tariffs on the country related to fentanyl to 10% from 20%. 

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Barclays predicted that tariff might move a few percentage points lower if China purchases aircraft, as well as American oil and soybeans. While Kalshi traders see a 79% chance a soybean purchase is announced, oil purchases have a much lower probability at just 24%. 

Traders also think there’s a 69% chance a U.S.-China Board of Trade is announced. This is a key goal of U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Wolfe’s Marcus noted. “We suspect that this will be done primarily through ongoing purchase commitments, with the Board of Trade eliciting a centralized answer from the CCP about what China will buy from the US to mitigate their bilateral trade surplus,” he wrote. 

Trump told reporters on Tuesday as he departed for the trip that while he expected to chat about the Iran war with Xi, he also said, “I don’t think we need any help with Iran.” Despite that, traders see a likelihood of 61% that he talks about Tehran during the bilateral meeting. They also give a 59% chance he talks about oil or gasoline. 

However, traders think there’s just a 54% chance he’ll talk about artificial intelligence. Jefferies analyst Edison Lee in a Tuesday note predicted the topic will likely be of great interest, considering the background of executives expected to join Trump on his trip. 

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“In addition to discussions on US AI chip/WFE [wafer-fabrication-equipment] export restrictions, the presence of Micron’s CEO and Meta’s president could offer scope for the issues of China’s ban on Micron’s products in key Chinese infra and restrictions against Facebook to be part of the discussions,” he wrote. “We also see these issues as part of the bargaining process in relation to US tech restrictions against China.”

And while China-U.S. tensions are high these days, traders don’t think that will stop a firm handshake. Traders think the most likely scenario is Trump and Xi will shake hands for about 8.5 seconds.  

Disclosure: CNBC and Kalshi have a commercial relationship that includes customer acquisition and a minority investment.

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UK parliament to probe Nigel Farage’s $6.8 million donation from crypto billionaire

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UK parliament to probe Nigel Farage’s $6.8 million donation from crypto billionaire

Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK and a member of Parliament, is facing a formal investigation by the parliamentary standards watchdog after failing to declare a 5 million-pound ($6.8 million) gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, news services including the Guardian reported Wednesday.

Farage received the donation from Harborne, a Thailand-based businessman with a 12% stake in stablecoin issuer Tether, weeks before announcing he would stand as a candidate in the 2024 general election, and did not declare it when elected as MP for Clapton. New MPs must register all financial interests received within the 12 months preceding their election.

A weekly YouGov poll of voting intentions has Reform UK gaining the largest share of votes, at 28%, putting Farage as the frontrunner to become the next prime minister. If the watchdog finds he breached the code of conduct, he could face suspension and potentially be forced to fight again for his parliamentary seat.

Farage, who is supportive of the crypto industry, has said that because Harborne’s donations were intended to cover his security expenses he was not compelled by law to declare them. Reform UK recently said the gift falls under the exemption for purely personal gifts. Labour and other parties argue that Harborne’s donations are subject to the rule, and the gift was referred to the parliamentary commissioner last month.

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The parliamentary commissioner for standards, Daniel Greenberg, is set to investigate Farage under rule 5 of the code of conduct, which compels lawmakers to “fulfil conscientiously” requirements relating to their registration of interests, the Guardian said.

The Reform UK leader does not appear on the commission’s list of current investigations.

In April, BitMEX co-founder Ben Delo said in an op-ed for CoinDesk that he had given the party 4 million pounds since the start of the year.

The U.K. government imposed a moratorium on political crypto donations in March, citing a review warning that digital assets could be used to channel foreign money into U.K. politics. The ban covers donations of any size and will be written into the Representation of the People Bill, with criminal penalties for non-compliance.

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Read more: Nigel Farage takes 6% stake in UK bitcoin treasury firm Stack BTC

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Metaplanet delays preferred share listing amid challenging Japanese market structure

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SBI, Sony back Startale’s $63 million push to expand Japan’s tokenized finance stack

Metaplanet (3350), Japan’s largest corporate bitcoin holder and the world’s third-largest bitcoin treasury company holding 40,177 BTC on its balance sheet, has confirmed a delay in its planned preferred share listing.

CEO Simon Gerovich discussed the complexity of navigating Japan’s underdeveloped preferred equity market as the primary reason for the hold-up.
The company’s planned instrument would be only the seventh listed preferred in Japan, Gerovich said, and, notably, the first-ever perpetual preferred share in the market.

Metaplanet announced back in November a two-tier listed preferred share class, Mars and Mercury. The move came after Strategy launched its own preferred shares, with Stretch (STRC) among the most popular.

Two key obstacles have stood in the way of Metaplanet’s listing of preferred shares.

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First, Japanese exchange rules require preferred dividends to be backed by sustainable, recurring cash flows assessed across multiple market conditions. Metaplanet must demonstrate that its Bitcoin Income Generation Business can produce stable returns even in adverse bitcoin environments, and has just a six-quarter operating track record.

Second, the company’s ambition to pay monthly dividends is far more frequent than Japan’s typical once or twice-yearly cadence, which requires building entirely new dividend infrastructure around record dates.

Gerovich concluded that the company is committed to delivering preferred shares to the market and highlighted Japan’s status as one of the world’s most yield-starved major capital markets.

On the earnings, the company delivered net sales of $19.5 million (¥3.08 billion, up 251% year-on-year) and operating income of $14.4 million (¥2.27 billion, up 283%). Meanwhile, bitcoin yield came in at 2.8% quarter-to-date.

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Metaplanet shares are down 25% year to date.

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CZ says he prefers AI “shovels” over AI itself as infrastructure race intensifies

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CZ says he prefers AI “shovels” over AI itself as infrastructure race intensifies

Binance founder Zhao Changpeng (CZ) said he prefers investing in the underlying infrastructure powering artificial intelligence rather than AI applications themselves, framing the current boom as an “infrastructure-first” investment cycle.

Summary

  • Binance founder Zhao Changpeng says he favors investing in AI infrastructure such as data centers and energy systems over AI applications.
  • He highlights NVIDIA’s dominance in AI chips but expects more customized compute solutions to emerge over time.
  • His investment firm still allocates 70%–80% of capital to Web3, keeping crypto as the core focus.

Speaking during a Binance online livestream, CZ described his preferred strategy as focusing on the “shovels” of AI — including data centers, power supply systems and large-scale computing infrastructure required to support model training and inference workloads.

His comments reflect a growing investor narrative that the AI economy is not just about algorithms or software, but about energy, hardware and compute availability at industrial scale.

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AI infrastructure becomes the dominant investment layer

CZ noted that while NVIDIA currently dominates the AI chip market, the long-term landscape may shift toward more specialized and customized compute solutions tailored to different AI workloads.

This view aligns with a broader industry trend in which hyperscale data centers, energy infrastructure and semiconductor supply chains are becoming the primary bottlenecks in AI expansion rather than software innovation itself.

He also said he is monitoring developments in robotics, suggesting that AI-driven physical automation may become a major adjacent investment theme alongside compute infrastructure.

The “shovels in a gold rush” analogy has become increasingly common across venture capital and macro investing circles, where capital allocators prioritize foundational layers that benefit from multiple waves of adoption rather than single-product AI companies.

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Web3 remains core as CZ keeps crypto allocation dominant

Despite growing interest in AI-related infrastructure, CZ emphasized that his investment firm YZi Labs continues to focus primarily on the crypto and blockchain sector, which still represents roughly 70% to 80% of its portfolio.

He also suggested that AI’s broader economic impact will extend into biotechnology and robotics, but said the firm does not plan to aggressively expand into large-scale biotech exposure at this stage.

Instead, the strategy remains centered on digital asset infrastructure, decentralized networks and blockchain-based financial systems, even as capital increasingly flows into adjacent high-growth sectors like AI compute and automation.

This positioning reflects a broader convergence theme across technology investing, where AI, energy, semiconductors and blockchain infrastructure are increasingly viewed as interconnected parts of a single computational economy.

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Infrastructure-driven narrative spans AI, crypto and global markets

CZ’s comments arrive at a time when global markets are increasingly rewarding infrastructure-heavy plays across multiple sectors — from semiconductor manufacturing and defense systems to energy grids and cloud computing.

In a similar macro pattern, investors have been rotating toward companies and assets that provide foundational capacity rather than end-user applications, especially as demand for compute-intensive technologies accelerates.

This infrastructure-first mindset also overlaps with broader macro uncertainty, where capital is increasingly concentrated in tangible capacity providers during periods of geopolitical fragmentation and supply chain stress.

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Within this context, crypto infrastructure remains positioned alongside AI and data center expansion as part of a wider digital-physical convergence cycle, where compute, energy and financial networks are becoming tightly linked investment themes.

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